Posted:21st Nov 2008So, as has been pointed out in the "Is it quieter around here lately?" the boards are kinda dead.

Things really started to turn quiet around April/May of this year and I figured it was just part of the normal cycles that we see here of flurries of activity and then periods of less activity.

It's November and the trend continues. In Social Chat, only six posts were made over a period of four days. I haven't been posting much lately because there haven't been posts to respond to. In seven years as a HoP member, I have never seen anything like it.

Even worse, Josh and Kate were going to have a mini-Doof tomorrow night at their place in my honor and it appears that very few people will be coming. This disappoints me. It means that our community is collapsing and I can't figure out why this is happening.

But more important than the discussion of why is how to fix it. This community was an amazing, active, warm, loving family consisting of tens of thousands of spinners all over the world. I don't think the blame can be placed in the hands of any individual.

Did the community move to Facebook? If so, can we use that to our advantage? Is there something that we can do to make this forum more conducive to gatherings and socialization?

What are your ideas?

And please, if you know someone who has gone silent, encourage them to come back.

Posted:23rd Jan 2009Originally Posted By: hamamelisOriginally Posted By: astonDoc: Birdwatchers are not really watching birds you know. They are making you think that while they observe humanity in preparation for the invasion of their alien overlords....

Curses, they're on to us! Fortunately, it sounds like our secret bird-attack training sessions have gone unnoticed.. so next time he goes outside the problem will be solved..

Ha! Too bad for you that I never go outside. And when I do I have poi to beat birds off with.

Originally Posted By: hamamelis I agree about the 'more videos' comment by the way, though it does seem odd that at a time when the number on vidoes online is increasing so rapidly, less seem to be making it to HoP.. I also spend time on www.contactjuggling.org and there the video section seems to be one of the most active.. here its one of the quieter areas..

Interesting observation. Will need to think about that one....

'We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad." [said the Cat.]"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice."You must be," said the Cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here."- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

Administration needs to ask the user base what they want in a very bold and expressive way to get MAXIMUM coverage on information HoP members need to give.-With that the administration can then formulate new ways to realistically improve things, if this means funding is involved then go for it! All HoP would really be doing with the money is strengthening the community in which their loyalties reside so it would be an investment.-With those plans the administration then relays it back to the users for their feedback, with that feedback they either get a signal to refine or be reaffirmed that the idea is solid in the first place.-If the idea needs refinement then refine it and relay it back only when significant improvements are made, and repeat previous step. If it's reaffirmed then regardless of previous work, do a bit of brainstorming just to make sure you, the administration have a plan to do exactly what YOU want.-Carry out the plan, if any large blocking problems come up then keep the users updated on those to maintain a sense of understanding.

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User community project based--Exactly like this except the admin, mods and users all have an open and really down to heart way to get involved and improve the community without the project getting too bloated to be unwieldy for new users to chip in. Concise, open, informed and fluid progress is key.

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Meritocracy Contests--I think the biggest bang-for-your-buck on contribution exchange for money would have to be contests which involve creating something and sending it in on a competitive basis, if we could have contests on HoP and the winners get things like poi or glowsticks? I bet you'd get an absolutely overwhelming amount of support. Even if it's not money, some people would be delighted at something skill-made instead like a custom print or custom poi/clothing or even just a little embroidery. If you don't know what people like, asking is a good way!

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What users can do?Think of interesting and unique topics then make a thread, seriously if you want more discussion people will need things to discuss... just remember controversial =/= interesting =P

Posted:21st Feb 2009For poi, but for things like logos, templates and essays on business model analysis? Think outside the box about things that would actually help improve the regular non-hardcore user's experience at HoP.

Returning to a unique state of EquilibriumLocation: Adelaide, South Australia

Total posts: 3289

Posted:21st Feb 2009mmm I dont post much anymore because....too much work and study have made/are making me dull. I (really) hope that when I finish studying in August, I'll be able to find some shiny bits of myself to chuck in the mix again.

--Help! My personality got stuck in this signature machine and I cant get it out!

Posted:23rd Feb 2009Originally Posted By: Pyrolificmmm I dont post much anymore because....too much work and study have made/are making me dull.

What are you studying, Josh? I am about to become very dull doing my final year of adult education..with a quick trip to SpunOut WA and Nick's poi retreat in Bali to wake me up in April Dang that assignment that's due on the last day of the retreat though!!! Hope my professor doesn;t die of shock when I hand it in two weeks early before I go! Hope I don;t die getting it done that early. My last assignment last year, after the craziness of my dad dying straight after UberOz was 6 weeks late and the lovely lady still gave me full marks.

ive been off for a while, but thats because of changes in my life which meant not being able to concentrate on here, or not being able too take part.

my 2 cents, which i dont think applies to everyone for obvious reasons is a lot of us had a lot more free time a couple of years ago. I know a lot of members are above their 20's but a large proportion were between 16 and say 25 for a while, and to be fair i think we all have more time when were younger because we make time for the fun stuff.... i dont know, i know i havent been able to do a lot of things this year, but thats going to change.

Disclaimer:im not responsible for what i say or do whether it be before,during and after drinking alcoholic substances (owned by BMVC).Creater of Jenisms(TM)Virginity like bubble,one prick all gone.

Posted:20th Mar 2009Hey it's good to see you back again, Tink and Bubbles! It all still trucks on and I totally agree that as a whole cohort 'grow up' and move into other things there's less time for old friends, or old friend sites....

Posted:2nd Jul 2009this community has been experiencing a setback because

ppl lost their interest and went off to do new things the "I'm not doing because you're not doing" attitude of old hands who rather pet their grudges than renew themselves and their attitude towards each other old hands stopped spinning poi personality websites like "Facebook" and because old hands going out on their ego trip and promoting themselves, now that poi really starts reaching a "critical mass" - as in "the chicks fledged and took off flying, and are not looking back"

Yes, there are only 5% left of those I saw in the beginning and had epic discussions with - who helped shaping ... me ...

But as I see it there are l.o.v.e.l.y new members in here - really fluffy people. Why is that? Because this board attracts nice and helpful people - it just is.

If this board really means something to you (old hands), you rather frequent it. Get off the Facebook junk, come back to ChittyChat, "htfu" and post there...

Posted:2nd Jul 2009I keep coming back here because it's quite an active board and seems to be populated with some good characters!! Of course, I've not been around long so it's all still new and fluffy!! lol

That said, there's a huge repository of knowledge and advice that us new spinners can approach knowing we'll not be dismissed out of hand for asking stupid questions!!